It was a good bounce-back game for New York and a tough preseason opener for Carolina, as the Jets defeated the Panthers 27-0. This game came after the two sides went up against one another for a week of joint practices earlier this week.
Offensive spotlight: Third-year quarterback Zach Wilson looked in control against the Panthers – which signals much-needed progress from his early days as a starter. Wilson played the entire first half, going 14-for-20 with 123 passing yards and one passing touchdown.
Zach Wilson adds to the @nyjets lead before the half!
????: #NYJvsCAR on NFL Network
????: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/duSBuYvB61pic.twitter.com/Cu08rVWOWa— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 12, 2023
Wilson appears to be more calculated in his approach to facilitating the ball. He posted 6.2 yards per attempt, but that wasn’t a bad thing. He may not have recorded a big-time throw, but he also did not record a turnover-worthy play. The Panthers were constantly pressuring the pocket, and he was taking his check-down throws appropriately.
Defensive spotlight: There were a handful of defensive players who could have been the spotlight here, but Panthers interior defensive lineman Derrick Brown gets the shoutout for what he was able to do in the first few series of the game. Brown, who played 12 total snaps, recorded a 77.9 initial overall grade with a game-high 76.5 run defense grade.
On the Jets' side of things, their entire first- and second-team pass-rushers were putting on a show. Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald, Quinton Jefferson, Solomon Thomas and Bryce Huff all recorded at least one pressure in the first half. As a team, the Jets recorded 10 pressures on the day. New York looks to boast one of the deepest and more talented defensive lines in the league this season.
D-LINE DOMINATING ????
It's @WILL_JUN1OR's turn for a sack!
???? #NYJvsCAR on NFLN pic.twitter.com/h1p9MbzwnU
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 12, 2023
Rookie spotlight: The biggest rookie standout was Jets running back Israel Abanikanda. In the Hall of Fame Game, Abanikanda rushed for 27 yards on nine carries with a touchdown. In the first half against the Panthers, he rushed for 56 yards on 12 carries and nearly had another score for the second week in a row. He also gained 53 of his 56 yards after contact.
.@IAbanikanda PUT HIM IN A BLENDER
???? #NYJvsCAR on NFLN pic.twitter.com/LMKc6Sc186
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 12, 2023
He also added 31 receiving yards on three targets for three catches. He was a total package player for the Jets in their second preseason game.
Offensive line spotlight: It was a tough day for both teams’ offensive lines. Both were giving up consistent pressure throughout the first and second halves. For Carolina, the offensive line yielded nine pressures in the contest off initial grading. Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu earned an impressive 85.5 run-blocking grade, but also recorded a 15.9 pass-blocking grade on initial grades, giving evidence to a very up-and-down day. Jets’ former first-round pick Mekhi Becton was playing with the second- and third-team offense in the first and second half, recording a 47.8 initial overall grade. He gave up two pressures and a sack.
Box Score
Passing
| New York Jets | ||||||
| Player | Fantasy | Comp/Att | Yds | YPA | TD | Int |
| Tim Boyle | 10.56 | 9 / 10 | 84 | 8.4 | 2 | 1 |
| Zach Wilson | 9.12 | 14 / 20 | 123 | 6.2 | 1 | 0 |
| Carolina Panthers | ||||||
| Player | Fantasy | Comp/Att | Yds | YPA | TD | Int |
| Matt Corral | 3.74 | 15 / 22 | 126 | 5.7 | 0 | 1 |
| Bryce Young | 0.84 | 4 / 6 | 21 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing
| New York Jets | ||||||
| Player | Fantasy | Car | Yds | YPC | TD | Long |
| Israel Abanikanda | 11.7 | 12 | 56 | 4.7 | 0 | 26 |
| Tim Boyle | 10.56 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Zach Wilson | 9.12 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Travis Dye | 8.7 | 10 | 32 | 3.2 | 0 | 10 |
| Michael Carter | 7.3 | 4 | 19 | 4.8 | 0 | 7 |
| Zonovan Knight | 2.6 | 4 | 13 | 3.2 | 0 | 7 |
| Damarea Crockett | 1.7 | 5 | 17 | 3.4 | 0 | 6 |
| Carolina Panthers | ||||||
| Player | Fantasy | Car | Yds | YPC | TD | Long |
| Spencer Brown | 6.8 | 8 | 34 | 4.2 | 0 | 13 |
| Matt Corral | 3.74 | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 | 7 |
| Raheem Blackshear | 2.6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Chuba Hubbard | 2.2 | 4 | 9 | 2.2 | 0 | 4 |
Receiving
| New York Jets | ||||||
| Player | Fantasy | Tgt | Rec | Yds | YPT | TD |
| Israel Abanikanda | 11.7 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 10.3 | 0 |
| Kenny Yeboah | 10.3 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 11.5 | 1 |
| Zack Kuntz | 9.7 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 1 |
| Travis Dye | 8.7 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 8.3 | 0 |
| E.J. Jenkins | 7.5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Michael Carter | 7.3 | 2 | 2 | 34 | 17 | 0 |
| Jeremy Ruckert | 3.9 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 0 |
| Alex Erickson | 3.7 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 |
| Jason Brownlee | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 3.3 | 0 |
| Zonovan Knight | 2.6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1.5 | 0 |
| Malik Taylor | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Tyler Conklin | 1.7 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 |
| C.J. Uzomah | 1.6 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Allen Lazard | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Irvin Charles | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Xavier Gipson | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carolina Panthers | ||||||
| Player | Fantasy | Tgt | Rec | Yds | YPT | TD |
| Spencer Brown | 6.8 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1.3 | 0 |
| Derek Wright | 6.5 | 3 | 3 | 35 | 11.7 | 0 |
| Javon Wims | 4.3 | 7 | 2 | 23 | 3.3 | 0 |
| Shi Smith | 3 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| Raheem Blackshear | 2.6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Giovanni Ricci | 2.4 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 0 |
| Chuba Hubbard | 2.2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Tommy Tremble | 2.2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| C.J. Saunders | 1.9 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Adam Thielen | 1.8 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| DJ Chark Jr. | 1.5 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| Hayden Hurst | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Ian Thomas | 1.5 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| Laviska Shenault Jr. | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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